SolAire Homes

A home becomes ENERGY STAR certified by an independent, third-party, who verifies the home to be at least 15% more efficient than a standard home built to state energy code. ENERGY STAR qualified new homes achieve their energy savings through a variety of reliable and established technologies and building practices. Some of the technologies and practices of ENERGY STAR are as follows:

• Tight Construction - Reduced air infiltration combined with proper ventilation can not only reduces your energy bills but it can also improve the quality of your indoor air. Outdoor air that leaks indoor makes it difficult to maintain comfort and energy efficiency. In addition, air leakage accounts for 25-40% of the energy used for heating and cooling in a typical home. Air sealing the house's envelope combined with proper ventilation, can reduce your energy bills and eliminate unwanted drafts and pollutants.
• Tight Ducts - Ducts carry air from the central heater or air conditioner to each part of the home and back again. Unfortunately, ducts can waste a significant amount of energy and money due to leaky ducts, installation in unheated home areas, un-insulated ducts, and mis-sized ducts. In typical American homes, ducts leak 20-30% of the air being forced through them. Tightly sealed ducts offer more consistent air distribution, improved indoor air, and lower utility bills due to a reduction in air conditioning costs.
• Improved Insulation - In most climates it is easy and cost-effective to increase insulation levels beyond those required by state building codes. This increase helps a home maintain a comfortable inside temperature while using less energy. For a home to maintain temperature efficiently, a continuous boundary of insulation is necessary between the inside and outside. Insulation must be installed carefully with no gaps, crimping, or compression, as these can allow unwanted air and heat exchange between the outside and inside.
• High Performance Windows - Heat gain and loss through windows accounts for up to 50% of a home's heating and cooling needs. Many technological improvements have been made in recent years that have advanced the insulating quality of windows including:
  • Improved Window Materials
    Advances in window technology such as double glazing and low-e coatings substantially reduce heat loss and gains. Look for ENERGY STAR or National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) labels to be sure you are getting high-efficiency windows.
  • Improved Framing Materials
    Low conductance materials, such as wood, vinyl, and fiberglass perform better than aluminum. Look for "thermal breaks" where aluminum frames are used in heating-dominated climates to avoid condensation. Insulated frames, including insulating spacers between glazings, also perform better than uninsulated frames.
    
    
  • Air Tightness
    High-performance or advanced windows need to be sealed around framing and other gaps that may exist. Caulks, foams, and weather-stripping work well to keep drafts out.
• Energy Efficient Heating & Cooling Equipment - Properly sizing and installing high-efficiency can significantly reduce the costs of cooling a home as heating or cooling a home can account for over 50% of the home's total energy use.
• Appliances & Lighting - ENERGY STAR dishwashers save up to 1000 gallons of water each year. Clothes washers use up to 50% less energy, and can save up to 25 gallons of water per load. ENERGY STAR homes feature compact fluorescent lighting (CFL) in at least 50% of the sockets. These light bulbs use up to 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs.

To learn more please visit www.NorthwestENERGYSTAR.com